Wire stretcher

ABSTRACT

A wire stretcher including an elongate notched bar having a travelling wire gripper and a stationary wire gripper associated therewith. The travelling wire gripper utilizes a pair of dogs cooperating with the spaced notches on the bar to move the travelling wire grippers step by step along the bar. A lever connected with one of the dogs is straight and can be folded into parallel relation with the bar with its dog disengaged from the notches. In this position the second dog can then be also disengaged so that the travelling wire gripper can be moved to any desired position along the bar.

ited States Patent Greutman July 23, 1974 WIRE STRETCHER Primary ExaminerLowell Larson [76] Inventor: William J. Greutman, BOX 234, Attorney, Agent, or Fzrm-Victor J. Evans & Co.

Miller, Nebr. 68858 [22] Filed: May 1, 1973 [57] ABSTRACT Appl. No.: 356,154

A wire stretcher including an elongate notched bar having a travelling wire gripper and a stationary wire gripper associated therewith. The travelling wire gripper utilizes a pair of dogs cooperating with the spaced notches on the bar to move the travelling wire grippers step by step along the bar. A lever connected with one of the dogs is straight and can be folded into parallel relation with the bar with its dog disengaged from the notches. In this position the second dog can then be also disengaged so that the travelling wire gripper can be moved to any desired position along the bar.

3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 WIRE STRETCHER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A wire stretcher which includes an elongate notched bar having a wire gripper rigidly secured thereto and a second wire gripper mounted for travel along the bar. The second wire gripper includes a pair of dogs for alternately engaging the notches in the bar with one of the dogs being actuated with a straight lever which can be folded into parallel contact with the bar lifting its dogs out of contact with the bar. The other dog can also be disengaged from the bar and in this position the moveable wire gripper can be moved along the bar to any desired position.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a wire stretcher in which the handle can be folded into parallel relation with the bar for ease of storage while simultaneously releasing the dog to permit the wire gripper to be adjusted along the bar.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent in the following specification when considered in light of the attached drawings. I

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTI-IE DRAWINGS I taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with the lever in folded position. I

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail, wherein like reference characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures, the reference numeral indicates generally, a wire stretcher constructed in accordance with the invention.

The wire stretcher 10 includes a generally flat elongate rack bar 11 having a plurality of notches 12 formed along one edge thereof and delineating teeth therebetween. A wire clamp generally indicated at 13 is mounted on one end of the rack bar 11 and includes a stationary base 14 secured in any suitable manner to the adjacent end portion of the bar 11. A stationary jaw 15 is secured by securing elements 16 to the stationary base 14. A moveable jaw 17 is mounted for movement toward and away from the stationary jaw 15 whereby wire such as the wire 19 can be gripped therebetween.

A support plate 18 is secured to the bar 11 by securing elements 20. A handle 21 is pivotally connected to the suppport plate 18 by a pivot pin 22. The handle 21 is connected to the moveable jaw 17 by a rivet pin 23.

A coil spring 24 is connected at one end to the handle 21 and at the other end to the support plate 18 as can be seen in FIG. 1.

Movement of the handle 21 in a direction away from the bar 11 causes the moveable jaw 17 to retract from the stationary jaw 15 so that the wire 19 can be released from therebetween. Upon release of the handle 2lthe spring 24 forces the jaw 17 toward the jaw 15 to clamp the wire 19 therebetween.

Still referring to FIG. 1 a carrier is indicated generally at 25 mounted on the rack bar 11 for sliding movement therealong. The carrier 25 includes a plate 26 and a second plate 27 arranged in spaced parallel relation thereto. Thev plates 26, 27 are arranged on oppposite sides of the rack bar 11. The plates 26, 27 are rigidly securedtogether by a bar B extending therebetween and welded thereto as well as a pin P also extending therebetween and welded thereto.

A straight hand lever 28 includes a main hand engaging portion 29 and a pair of spaced legs 30. The legs 30 engage on opposite sides of the plates 26, 27 and are secured thereto by a pivot pin 31 extending completely therethrough. A plug 32 is mounted between the plates 26, 27 on the pivot pin 31 and include a flat surface 33 which is arranged contiguous to the notches 12. The

plug 32 includes an inclined surface 34 extending from the straight surface 33 and terminating in a rounded surface 35. A second inclined surface 36 extends from the oppositeend of the straight surface 33 and similarly terminates in the rounded surface 35.

A dog 38 is mounted for coaction with the plug 32 and includes anend portion 39 which is mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the notches 12. The dog 38 includes a recessed. curved portion 40 for coaction with the surfaces 34, 35, 36 of the plug 32. A pivot pin 41 extends through the'legs 30 and through the dog 38 to pivotally secure the dog 38 to the legs 30.

A lug 42 is integrally formed on the plate 26 and extends outwardly therefrom. A coil spring 43 has one end connected to the lug 42 and the opposite end connected to a pin 44 on the dog 38;.

A pawl 45 is secured between the plates 26, 27 by a pivot pin 46. A hand lever L is also pivotally mounted on the pivot pin 46 and has a spring connecting pin 47 formed thereon. A coil spring 48 has one end connected to the pin 47 and the opposite end anchored to the plate 26 through a bore 49.

The-pawl 45 includes a curved end portion 50 and a tooth portion 51 mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the notches 12. The stops 52 and 53 on the pawl 45 are provided to limit the swinging movement of the lever L. With the lever L in the position shown in FIG. 3 the pressure of the spring 48 on the lever L is transmitted to the pawl 45 through the stop 52 thus maintaining the tooth 51 in resilient engagement with the notches 12. When it is desired to disengage the tooth 51 from the notches 12 the lever L isswung on the pivot 46 so as to engage the stop 53 moving the spring 48 to the other side of center of the pivot pin46 so that the spring 48 then holds the tooth 51 out of engagement with the notches 12.

A stationary jaw 54 is secured by securing elements 55 to the plate 27 and a moveable jaw 56 is arranged for movement with respect to the stationary jaw 54.

The jaw 56 is moved into and out of engagement with the stationary jaw 54 by means of a manually moveable lever 57. The lever 57 is pivotally connected to the plate 26 by a pivot pin 59 and is secured to the moveable jaw 56 by a rivet pin 58. A coil spring 60 extends from a lug 61 on the hand lever 57 to a lug 42 on the plate 26.

According to the present invention wire such as barbed wire 19 is adapted to be clamped between the jaws and 17 and the spring 24 maintains the jaw 17 in clamping engagement as shown in FIG. 1. However, when it is desired to release the wire from the clamp 13, the handle 21 can be pivoted about the pin 22 so as to free or move the jaw 17 away from the jaw 15 whereby the wire 19 can be released from the jaws l5 and 17. Another portion of the wire 19 is adapted to be clamped between the stationary jaw 54 and the moveable jaw 56 and these various jaws may be provided with teeth so as to increase the gripping capability thereof. With a portion of the barbed wire 19 between the jaws 54 and 56, it will be seen that the spring 60 will urge the jaw 56 into clamping or locking relationship with respect to the jaw 54 so that the wire 19 will not accidentally work loose from between the jaws 54 and 56. Then, to tighten the wire, as for example when a fence is being constructed, it is only necessary to manually move the operator 28 and this movement of the operator 28 is accomplished by gripping the portion 29 and working the operator 28 back and forth. It is to be noted that the operator 28 is pivotally connected to the plates 26 and 27 of the carrier 25 by means of the pivot pin 31, and the dog 38 is arranged so that as the operator 28 is manually oscillated and moved back and forth, the pointed end 39 of the dog 38 will engage the notches 12 so that the carrier 25 will be shifted along the bar 11 and this will have the effect of tightening the wire 19 which is clamped between the jaws.

It will be further seen that according to the present invention the pawl 45 is retained immobile in either the solid line position shown in FIG. 4 or the solid line position shown in FIG. 3 by means of the coil spring 48. Thus the spring 48 functions as an off-center spring in cooperation with the lever L so as to retain the pawl 45 stationary in either of its adjusted positions. The spring 43 retains the pointed end 49 of the dog 38 in engagement with the notches 12. It is to be noted that when the carrier 25 is to be backed off, as for example when tension on the portion of the wire 19 between the jaws 54 and 56 is to be released, then it is only necessary to shift the pawl 45 from the FIG. 4 to the FIG. 3 position and move the operator 28 to a position adjacent to and parallel to the bar 11 so that the end of the dog 38 will move out of the teeth 12 to completely release the carrier 25 for movement along the bar 11.

The plug 32 with its flat surface 33 and rounded surface 35 coacts with the recess surface 40 of the dog 38 so that a highly efficient bearing surface is provided between the dog 38, plug 32 and the bar 11 so that movement of the parts along the bar 11 is greatly facilitated and the operation of the device is smooth. Thus, the plug 32 functions as a bearing member and provides a fulcrum for the dog 38 as the dog works back and forth on its pivot pin 41.

When the wire 19 is to be released from the jaws 54 and 56 the lever 57 can be pivoted on the pin 59 to move the jaw 56 away from the jaw 54, sufficiently to permit the wire 19 to be loosened or removed. The pawl 45 permits complete control of the device in use and further permits the device to be backed off gradually and permits easier release. If the wire 19 is too tight, the pawl 45 permits release of the device a small amount at a time.

Thus, it will be seen that there has been provided a device which can be used for handling wire such as barbed wire to permit it to be stretched and spliced. The device can be folded to be easily transportable and stored.

Having thus described the preferred embodiment of the invention it should be understood that numerous structural modifications and adaptations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A wire stretcher comprising an elongate bar provided with a plurality of spaced notches along one edge thereof, a wire clamp on one end of said bar with said clamp including a base secured to the one end of said bar, a stationary jaw secured to the outer portion of said base, a moveable jaw for coaction with said stationary jaw, a support plate secured to said bar, and a spring pressed handle connected to said moveable jaw and pivotally connected to said support plate, a carrier adjustably connected to said bar, said carrier including first and second spaced parallel plates arranged on opposite sides of said bar, an operator including a main hand engaging portion, said operator further including spaced apart legs straddling a portion of said plates, a pivot pin extending through said legs and plates, a plug interposed between said pair of plates and having said pivot pin extending therethrough, said plug including a flat surface arranged contiguous to the notched edge of said bar, said plug further including oppositely inclined surfaces extending from opposite ends of said flat surface and connected by a rounded surface, a dog having one end pivotally connected between said legs and said dog having an end mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the notches in said bar, said dog including a recessed curved portion for engagement with the rounded surface of said plug, a lug extending outwardly from said first plate, a coil spring having one end connected to said lug and its other end connected to said dog, a pawl mounted between said pair of plates, a pivot pin extending through said plates and paw], a lever mounted on said last named pivot pin, a pin extending outwardly from one side of said last named lever, a coil spring having one end connected to said last named pin and its other end connected to said second plate, said pawl including a curved end portion and a pointed end, said pointed end of said pawl being mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the notches of said bar, a stationary jaw secured to said second plate, a moveable jaw for coaction with said last named stationary jaw, a hand lever pivotally connected to said first plate, and said hand lever being connected to said last named moveable jaw, and a coil spring having one end connected to said hand lever and its other end anchored to said lug.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongate bar is substantially straight and flat.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pawl is resiliently urged into engagement with said notches by the spring connected to said lever. 

1. A wire stretcher comprising an elongate bar provided with a plurality of spaced notches along one edge thereof, a wire clamp on one end of said bar with said clamp including a base secured to the one end of said bar, a stationary jaw secured to the outer portion of said base, a moveable jaw for coaction with said stationary jaw, a support plate secured to said bar, and a spring pressed handle connected to said moveable jaw and pivotally connected to said support plate, a carrier adjustably connected to said bar, said carrier including first and second spaced parallel plates arranged on opposite sides of said bar, an operator including a main hand engaging portioN, said operator further including spaced apart legs straddling a portion of said plates, a pivot pin extending through said legs and plates, a plug interposed between said pair of plates and having said pivot pin extending therethrough, said plug including a flat surface arranged contiguous to the notched edge of said bar, said plug further including oppositely inclined surfaces extending from opposite ends of said flat surface and connected by a rounded surface, a dog having one end pivotally connected between said legs and said dog having an end mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the notches in said bar, said dog including a recessed curved portion for engagement with the rounded surface of said plug, a lug extending outwardly from said first plate, a coil spring having one end connected to said lug and its other end connected to said dog, a pawl mounted between said pair of plates, a pivot pin extending through said plates and pawl, a lever mounted on said last named pivot pin, a pin extending outwardly from one side of said last named lever, a coil spring having one end connected to said last named pin and its other end connected to said second plate, said pawl including a curved end portion and a pointed end, said pointed end of said pawl being mounted for movement into and out of engagement with the notches of said bar, a stationary jaw secured to said second plate, a moveable jaw for coaction with said last named stationary jaw, a hand lever pivotally connected to said first plate, and said hand lever being connected to said last named moveable jaw, and a coil spring having one end connected to said hand lever and its other end anchored to said lug.
 2. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said elongate bar is substantially straight and flat.
 3. A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said pawl is resiliently urged into engagement with said notches by the spring connected to said lever. 